18 Products Black Skin Experts Use to Overcome Their Biggest Skincare Challenges

Angela Ubias, co-founder and CPO of Common Heir, uses this eye balm daily to help with eye eczema. "I've struggled with eye eczema since I was a teenager," she says. "I never quite knew what the flare-ups were until recently, and over the years, I've found a couple of amazing products, including this one, that soothe the irritation and inflammation caused by them." 

Another staple she uses for more serious flare-ups is this soothing cream from La Roche-Posay. She uses a small dab of it along with Kiramoon's Moon Globes ($42) to further cool and soothe any irritation.

To combat winter dryness, Ubias loves this cleansing oil. "I love using a gentle cleanser like this one as opposed to a gel cleanser because it prevents overdrying and doesn't strip my skin the way that some gel cleansers can," she says.

For a deeper hydration treatment, Ubias reaches for Dr. Barbara Sturm's mask once a week for an instant moisture boost.

Niambi Cacchioli, founder of Pholk Beauty, is willing to reveal a common struggle that's rarely talked about. "Let's talk facial hair. Oh yes, I'm going there! I went natural in my 20s and love the styling versatility of having thick, coily hair. That same texture grows out of my pores, and for years, I struggled with a cycle of hair removal and ingrown hairs. Ingrowns occur when the hair curls back into the skin and continues to grow in the wrong direction. When inflamed, they can be painful and almost always leave a dark mark on my skin. To help, I trim hairs with facial scissors to space out hair-removal times, and I use these Bamboo Charcoal Pads for absolutely everything! Once a week, I gently massage my chin area with a pad while I'm in the shower as a gentle manual exfoliation."

Cacchioli douses her makeup pads in this soothing mist to press into her chin and jawline. "It gets rid of dirt and bacteria that build up around hairs, hydrates my textured skin, and leaves it soft and smooth," she says.

Desiree Verdejo, CEO and founder of Hyper Skin, has struggled with acne since she was a teen. "It has both calmed down and exploded at different times in my life," she shares. "It got really bad when I became a new mom, and the scarring that followed is something that I've always found to be my biggest skincare challenge. I've tried all different types of products, and some of my favorite products that have really worked for me include vitamin C. Hyper Skin's serum really targets hyperpigmentation without causing any skin irritation."

Verdejo's go-to retinol cream would have to be Obagi's because it's gentle yet extremely effective.

Verdejo, like most other experts, can't stress the importance of sunscreen enough. "This is so key to help avoid further development of hyperpigmentation. Finding a good SPF can be a challenge, but I use this one from Black Girl Sunscreen," she says.

Verdejo also considers Supergoop! sunscreen a great option for melanin-rich skin. "It's been one of my go-tos for years!" she adds.

Evonna Kuehner, founder of Anové Beauty, has always struggled with extremely dry skin, especially during her first pregnancy. She says, "To overcome the issue, I use Anové's AHA + Aloe Cleansing Gel to clean my skin without exacerbating the existing dryness."

The next step in Kuehner's routine is the luxe Immortal Rose Hydrating Toner. It's beautifully scented and rich in plant-based ingredients like witch hazel extract.

Board-certified dermatologist and beauty chemist Alexis Stephens loves using this cleanser for acne. "I recently started experiencing hormonal acne. To combat this, I cycle my skincare and make sure to exfoliate a week prior to my period with mandelic acid to clear pores and nourish my skin barrier," she explains. "During this time of the month, the increase in progesterone stimulates oil glands to rev up on sebum production, which blocks the pores and creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth. This product always keeps bacteria, excess oil, and inflammation in check." Another tip she has? Schedule a hydrafacial. "I also make sure to schedule them around this time, as this phase is all about detecting and defending skin issues," she adds.

If you're like me and struggle with cystic breakouts from time to time, try adding a face wash with benzoyl peroxide to your routine. I personally love this face wash because it contains 5% benzoyl peroxide but is gentle enough for sensitive skin. It's dermatologist developed and releases a gentle moisturizer throughout the day, so it's not as drying as normal washes containing benzoyl peroxide.

Eadem's Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum is an absolute dream. Having melanin-rich skin oftentimes means you're more prone to dark spots. Ugh. This serum helps correct that issue in record time. Additionally, it helps with uneven texture and acne.

For a serious hydration and antioxidant boost, I turn to Farmacy's Honey Potion. It truly never lets me down. It's especially great to use once a week if you use a retinol serum in your routine or other drying acne medication.

This vitamin C–based eye cream is something I always reach for. I tend to get pretty bad dark circles if I don't get my full eight hours (color me delicate), and this instantly helps lift and brighten that area so I don't look like a zombie.

Having a good hydrating mist around is absolutely key during the winter. This mist from Epara Skincare hydrates and smooths all while reducing hyperpigmentation.